2015-04 MORE PUSHBACK ON BEAR HUNTING

The Florida Sierra Club Chapter, the Florida Humane Society, and several environmental organizations are forming coalition to push back against the Florida Conservation Commission’s decision to re­instate Bear hunting in Florida. The coalition is planning to descend on Tallahassee on April 15 to voice our many objections to the policy change. Unfortunately for the FWC, the change is not yet set in stone. We should show up en masse at his meeting to protest the slaughter of 200+ Black Bears in the name of solving the Human-Bear conflict. Several alternatives to hunting were introduced to the FWC in Jacksonville last month: “Bear Smart” Communities, public education, law enforcement and responder techniques, local ordi­nances to create “Bear proof garbage,” and real Growth management to protect what little habitat is left for the wild animals of Florida. We hope to convince the Commission to change their plans and protect the Bears rather than slaughter them. We hope everyone will join us.